Prayers for the Non-Orthodox Departed
St. Leonid of Optina introduced this prayer to a disciple who was in despair over the suicide of his father: "Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father, if possible, have mercy! Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not account this prayer of mine as a sin. May Thy holy will be done."
Based on St Leonid's prayer, we may pray this prayer for the Non-Orthodox departed "Have mercy, O Lord, if it be possible on the souls of Thy departed servants (names), who have departed into eternal life in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church. Unsearchable are Thy decrees. Do not account this, my prayer as a sin, but may Thy holy will be done."
We may also pray the Akathist for the Repose of the Departed, found in The Book of Akathists (published by Holy Trinity Monastery) privately. This akathist, for anyone who has departed, gives us a means to pray for those for whom a Pannikhida cannot be done.
St. Leonid of Optina introduced this prayer to a disciple who was in despair over the suicide of his father: "Seek out, O Lord, the lost soul of my father, if possible, have mercy! Thy judgements are unfathomable. Do not account this prayer of mine as a sin. May Thy holy will be done."
Based on St Leonid's prayer, we may pray this prayer for the Non-Orthodox departed "Have mercy, O Lord, if it be possible on the souls of Thy departed servants (names), who have departed into eternal life in separation from Thy Holy Orthodox Church. Unsearchable are Thy decrees. Do not account this, my prayer as a sin, but may Thy holy will be done."
We may also pray the Akathist for the Repose of the Departed, found in The Book of Akathists (published by Holy Trinity Monastery) privately. This akathist, for anyone who has departed, gives us a means to pray for those for whom a Pannikhida cannot be done.
“Confess, partake, and fear nothing. Confession is the key to the kingdom of heaven.
With all illnesses and sorrows, go to church. Here is our spiritual and physical hospital.
Confess and partake more often, do not blame anyone, kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening. And everything will pass: illnesses, obsession, and thoughts of blasphemy and fornication."
☦️St. John Kronstadt
With all illnesses and sorrows, go to church. Here is our spiritual and physical hospital.
Confess and partake more often, do not blame anyone, kiss your cross in the morning and in the evening. And everything will pass: illnesses, obsession, and thoughts of blasphemy and fornication."
☦️St. John Kronstadt
The Orthodox Church is growing in India. Missionary priests like Fr. Stanislav Rasputin and Fr. George Maximov have brought many souls into the Orthodox Church.
There is much confusion about strength of Orthodoxy in the land where the Holy Apostle Thomas established the Church. Today, most churches that call themselves “Orthodox”— such as "Malankara" and “Syriac"— are not canonical, though they have existed for centuries.
However, the situation is changing. Hundreds have been baptized into the canonical Church and many Orthodox communities have been created in recent years.
There is much confusion about strength of Orthodoxy in the land where the Holy Apostle Thomas established the Church. Today, most churches that call themselves “Orthodox”— such as "Malankara" and “Syriac"— are not canonical, though they have existed for centuries.
However, the situation is changing. Hundreds have been baptized into the canonical Church and many Orthodox communities have been created in recent years.
“If you say something evil about your brother or sister, even if it is true, your soul suffers an unhealable wound. You can reveal the sins of another only when the sole intention in your heart is the benefit of the soul of the sinner." ☦️ St. Nikon of Optina (June 25)
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
St. Barsanuphius prophesied that Russian Christians would be persecuted and suffer martyrdom. Fr. Nikon lived through the terrible times of under the communist yoke. He courageously endured the forced closure of his beloved monastery, the brutal harshness of a communist labour camp, and disease brought on by the inhumane conditions he experienced daily.
St. Nikon, pray unto God for our salvation!
The Sunday following Pentecost is dedicated to All Saints from every corner of the earth.
The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,
As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!
The universe offers You the God-bearing martyrs,
As the first fruits of creation, O Lord and Creator.
Through the Theotokos, and their prayers establish Your Church in peace!
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2
St Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox, Lansing, IL. Photo by Ekklésia Gigapanography
St Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox, Lansing, IL. Photo by Ekklésia Gigapanography
Before the blessed Augustine was converted to Christ, his debauchery was a constant affliction for his devout mother. St Monica shed countless tears in petitioning God for the salvation of her son.
A bishop to whom she turned in her distress declared to St Monica that it was impossible for the son of so many tears to be lost. Finally, after 26 years of sin and error, her son was baptized.
In St Luke’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to “always pray and not lose heart.” (18:1). St Monica was an untiring warrior in her prayers for her wayward son, who would become St Augustine, bishop of Hippo.
Mother and son are jointly commemorated on June 15/ June 28.
A bishop to whom she turned in her distress declared to St Monica that it was impossible for the son of so many tears to be lost. Finally, after 26 years of sin and error, her son was baptized.
In St Luke’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to “always pray and not lose heart.” (18:1). St Monica was an untiring warrior in her prayers for her wayward son, who would become St Augustine, bishop of Hippo.
Mother and son are jointly commemorated on June 15/ June 28.
"All of Creation rejoices in thee, O full of grace:
the angels in heaven and the race of men,
O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise..."
St John of Damascus wrote zealously in defense of Orthodoxy in the time of time of the Iconoclasts. For this, the hand with which he wrote was ordered severed by the Caliph-- and then restored after his petitions to the Theotokos. St John's joyful response to the miracle was to place on the icon a hand fashioned of silver. Thus, the icon received its name “Of Three Hands.” The miracle also inspired the writing of the hymn of thanksgiving to the Mother of God: “All of creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace.”
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Three Hands", "Tricheroussa", of Hilandar, Mount Athos (8th century), commemorated June 28/ July 11
the angels in heaven and the race of men,
O sanctified temple and spiritual paradise..."
St John of Damascus wrote zealously in defense of Orthodoxy in the time of time of the Iconoclasts. For this, the hand with which he wrote was ordered severed by the Caliph-- and then restored after his petitions to the Theotokos. St John's joyful response to the miracle was to place on the icon a hand fashioned of silver. Thus, the icon received its name “Of Three Hands.” The miracle also inspired the writing of the hymn of thanksgiving to the Mother of God: “All of creation rejoices in You, O Full of Grace.”
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Three Hands", "Tricheroussa", of Hilandar, Mount Athos (8th century), commemorated June 28/ July 11
"'[F]or the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear" + Mt 13:15-16
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" + St Peter (Mt. 16:16)
"I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me" + St Paul (Gal. 2:20)
"First-enthroned of the apostles, teachers of the universe:
Entreat the Master of all to grant peace to the world,
and to our souls great mercy!" - Troparion for the Feast of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul (commemorated together on June 29/ July 12)
Icon: 11th century, Sophia Cathedral, Veliky Novgorod
"I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me" + St Paul (Gal. 2:20)
"First-enthroned of the apostles, teachers of the universe:
Entreat the Master of all to grant peace to the world,
and to our souls great mercy!" - Troparion for the Feast of the Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leaders of the Apostles, Peter and Paul (commemorated together on June 29/ July 12)
Icon: 11th century, Sophia Cathedral, Veliky Novgorod
"Today, people without Christ are building their home on rubble." ☦️ St Paisios the Athonite (June 29/July 12)
“In the past, people were so brave! In the Monastery of the Flavians in Asia Minor, the Turks had captured a man and slaughtered him. Then they told his wife, 'Either you deny Christ, or we will kill your children too.' And she replied, 'My husband is now with Christ, and I entrust my children to Christ and I will not renounce Christ.' What bravery! If Christ is not in us, how can there be such bravery? Today, people without Christ are building their home on rubble...
What love the holy Martyrs had for Christ, what bravery! ... [For example] St. Gideon the Karakallenos (+1818) -- what amazing forbearance he had! To his executioners he said, 'Take my hand, take my leg, take my nose.' In short, take everything! Incredible! But for a man to reach that point, he must not love himself, he must love God.
“In the past, people were so brave! In the Monastery of the Flavians in Asia Minor, the Turks had captured a man and slaughtered him. Then they told his wife, 'Either you deny Christ, or we will kill your children too.' And she replied, 'My husband is now with Christ, and I entrust my children to Christ and I will not renounce Christ.' What bravery! If Christ is not in us, how can there be such bravery? Today, people without Christ are building their home on rubble...
What love the holy Martyrs had for Christ, what bravery! ... [For example] St. Gideon the Karakallenos (+1818) -- what amazing forbearance he had! To his executioners he said, 'Take my hand, take my leg, take my nose.' In short, take everything! Incredible! But for a man to reach that point, he must not love himself, he must love God.
A mother runs into a fire to save her child. She doesn't feel any pain, because her love is stronger than the burning of the fire. Her love for her child masks the pain. So you can imagine how much more the love for Christ can mask the pain of martyrdom!...
For the Saint approaching martyrdom, the love for Christ is stronger than the pain; it neutralizes it. The Martyrs felt the executioner's sword to be sweeter than the bow of a violin. When the love of Christ really blossoms, then martyrdom becomes a festival; fire refreshes better than a bath, because the burning feeling is dispelled by the burning of divine love. A flaying becomes a caress...
For the Saint approaching martyrdom, the love for Christ is stronger than the pain; it neutralizes it. The Martyrs felt the executioner's sword to be sweeter than the bow of a violin. When the love of Christ really blossoms, then martyrdom becomes a festival; fire refreshes better than a bath, because the burning feeling is dispelled by the burning of divine love. A flaying becomes a caress...